Giroux now a star in his own right

Sunday

Last year, Claude Giroux was being asked if he might profit from spending a weekend rubbing elbows with great players.

This year, other players are being asked if there might be benefits to hanging out with stars like ... Claude Giroux.

Sunday afternoon, the Flyers’ talented center appears in his second straight NHL All-Star Game and, while he still might be a little awestruck being around the Pavel Datsyuks and Nicklas Lidstroms, he’s clearly not as nervous as 2011.

“When you’ve been there, you’re a little bit more comfortable,’’ Giroux said. “It’s going to be pretty exciting again, especially because it’s in Ottawa with all my family and friends there.’’

Giroux grew up in nearby Hearst, Ont., so the contingent should be substantial. Even though there’s some hockey to be played, Giroux feels like he can benefit from what amounts to a five-day break from intense hockey.

“I’m not really getting away from hockey, but just getting a (mental) break,’’ he said. “Anytime you get one or two days off, you kind of miss the game a little bit. I think just having a little break will be good to have that hungry feeling again.’’

It’s been truly a breakthrough year for the 24-year-old Giroux, who has been jockeying for the league scoring and power-play points lead.

With Daniel Briere sidelined indefinitely by a concussion, Giroux was recently given an alternate captain’s “A,’’ a signal that he one day could be promoted to the captain’s “C.’’

And with captain Chris Pronger’s career in jeopardy due to a serious concussion, the transition might come sooner than later.

That’s where being around a leader like Datsyuk for a weekend could come in handy.

“I grew up watching him a bit,’’ Giroux said. “It’s all the best players from each team, so you know how they act around the rink and their attitudes. There are a lot of leaders and hopefully I can learn from that.’’

Those who watched the HBO 24/7 series leading up to the Winter Classic saw Giroux’s leadership in action. He’s become more vocal this year. After the Flyers blew a two-goal lead to the Rangers in the WC, and then coughed up another two-goal lead to the Chicago Blackhawks in the first game back indoors, coach Peter Laviolette related that Giroux yelled on the bench, “It’s not going to happen again!’’ The Flyers won in the final minute.

Actually, the Flyers saw this coming from a ways back, which is why they were OK with trading former captain Mike Richards. Giroux already looks natural taking over the tempo of a game.

“When you play more, I think you’re feeling more comfortable and you want to help the team more,’’ Giroux said. “You feel more responsibilities. But it’s just details at the end of the day and your job is to come to the rink and give your team the best chance to win.’’

So will we be seeing Captain Claude someday?

“I don’t see who wouldn’t want to be captain of a team,’’ he said. “That would be pretty cool, but I’m not worrying about that kind of stuff right now. I’ve got more things to worry about. I have to focus on things that I can control on the ice.’’